Reticular Veins

Reticular veins are flat in appearance and have a bluish or green look on the outside of the legs. Even though they are underneath the skin, they are still visible. They often cause discomfort, but rarely come with other symptoms and have no real medical complications.

The reticular veins can be a single vein, or they can be "feeder veins", which are considered to be the true cause of spider veins. While the bruising and swelling often come with varicose and spider veins, the reticular veins rarely have side effects at all. On the other hand, reticular veins are more noticeable than the other types because of their color, length and depth.

Reticular veins are often a hereditary issue, and they are often caused from an imbalance of hormones. Too much body weight can add additional pressure to the veins as well, making them more noticeable.

The most popular type of treatment for reticular veins is sclerotherapy. With this procedure, a solution with salt is injected directly into the veins causing the vein walls to swell, stick together and then seal shut. This will prevent the blood from continuing to flow into the vein so that the vein becomes scar tissue and fade away over a few weeks'. Oftentimes, it will take more than one procedure to remove the vein, and the process is performed in a doctor's office.

If the sclerotherapy does not produce the desired results, laser treatment could be the next option for treating reticular veins.